Dominica's Minister for Public Utilities, Energy and Ports, Charles Savarin, last week signed three financing agreements for a grant of 4 million euros, for the further development of Dominica’s geothermal energy resources.

The agreements signed were with the Agence Francaise de Development (AFD) and the Fonds Francais pour l’Environnement Mondial (FFEM).  These new funds will be combined with a previous commitment by the European Commission of 1.5 million euros towards the Geothermal Energy Development programme.

The combination of funds is to be applied to various activities including:

• the identification and characterization of the geothermal resource in the Wotten Waven area;
  
  
• the identification and financing of expert services for the required technical and economic studies in respect of the design of the geothermal plant and electrical interconnection with Guadeloupe and Martinique;
  
  
• the performance of the required studies;
  
  
• the preparation of the structure of the public-private partnership for the development of the project and the procurement process for the selection of the concessionaire.

Deputy Director of the AFD Mr Jean-Christophe Pecresse signed the grant financing agreements on behalf of the AFD and the FFEM. Michele Sauteraud, Ambassador of France to the OECS, attended the signing ceremony.

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